...ASSOCIATES vs. THE BACCALAUREATE PREPARED NURSE 1 Educational Preparation Doris N. Nwoko Grand Canyon University College of Nursing Author Note Discussion on the differences in competencies between an associate degree prepared nurse versus the baccalaureate degree prepared nurse Abstract As nursing continues to strive for its rightful recognition in healthcare settings and the world at large, there has been and continues to be scrutiny and questions arising about the nursing profession. Also discussed is how does one differentiate the duties and responsibilities associated with one level from the other after all the term synonymous with both levels is a registered nurse (RN). The ANA definition of nursing is "Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations" (www.nursingworld.org). The ANA made no reference to the level of preparedness required to achieve the defined scope. On one hand, one might argue that the Associate Degree Nurse (ADN) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) both sat for and passed the same NCLEX-RN examination (www.aacn.nche.edu). On the other, the medical field in general continues to advocate investment in the baccalaureate prepared nurse in its effort to substantially reduce...
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...Week 3 Application: Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response Abigail C. Diggs Walden Education NURS 4010-04: Family, Community and Population-Based Care November 3, 2013 Week 3: Application INTRODUCTION Natural disaster can be scary, chaotic and an tragic events for the entire community, city, state and even at the national level. In the events of an natural disaster, nurses played key role in planning before it can happen, and assessment when the disaster actually happens (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2012). The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate or highlights some key role the nurse may played in the emergency preparedness and response to hurricane disaster in within a community during or the before the actual disaster. THE ROLE OF THE NURSE' DURING HURRICANE DISASTER Hurricanes are a large tropical storms that comes with heavy rains. Hurricanes contains winds that may be in excess of 74 miles per hour and large areas of rainfall, creating flooding. In addition, hurricanes have the potential to create large and dangerous tornadoes (http://www.severeweather.com/hurricanes). The ocean-water temperature has to be above 79-degree for hurricane to developed. Therefore, hurricanes happened in late summer and early fall. Meteorologist used the term tropical storms when the winds are under 74 miles per hour and hurricanes when it rises above 74 miles hour. A hurricanes can last up to 2-weeks causes damages and in most causes it may be deadly...
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...The Differences in Competencies Between Nurses Prepared at the Associates-Degree Level vs. The Baccalaureate-Degree Level in Nursing Kimberly K Gormley Grand Canyon University: NRS-430V Professional Dynamics June 9, 2013 There has been much debate on the subject of whether nurses that graduated at the baccalaureate-degree level are better prepared than nurses educated at the associate-degree level. I was educated at the associate-degree level at a community college here in my local community in a program that consisted of two years or four semesters and was called the “nursing program”. Before I entered the program I also completed four semesters of prerequisites to be qualified into the program. One of the requirements at that time but has since been dropped as a requirement here in Arizona was to obtain your certified nursing assistant license. During my experience in the nursing program the common held belief was that hospitals preferred to hire nurses that had graduated from the community college associate-degree level because they were better prepared in the clinical setting than baccalaureate-degree nurses who spent more of their time in the classroom. A focus group study was conducted at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill School of Nursing that addressed this very question. Completed by Oermann, M., Poole-Dawkins, K., Alvarez, M., Foster, B., & O'Sullivan, R. (2010). Managers' perspectives of new graduates of accelerated nursing. Journal of Continuing...
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...Educational Preparedness Michelle Pierson, RN Grand Canyon University Professional Dynamics NRS 430V Celeste Ottney June 29, 2012 Educational Preparedness Patient safety and patient outcomes have long been a source of examination. Many studies exist relating patient outcomes and patient safety to registered nurse staffing, but there are few studies that directly compare those outcomes to the level of nursing education. In 2003 the education levels or nurses became more specified during a study in the Journal of American Medicine; prior to that all registered nurses, regardless of associates degree or bachelor’s degree were often placed into the “RN” category and LPN/LVN was the other category specifying nurses with a certificate. (Ridley, 2008) The result of this study was found that hospitals in the Unites States that employed at least ten percent more bachelor degree nurses decreased patient mortality rates by five percent.(Aiken, Clarke, Cheung, & Sliber, 2003). This study began a long controversy which exists today between associates degree nurses (ADN) and bachelors degree nurses (BSN) educated nurses with many ADN nursing programs arguing that their graduates pass the NCLEX at or above the rate of many BSN programs. In 2012 the Nevada State Board of Nursing reported that the associate’s degree school with the largest graduating class had a pass rate of 93.24% of their 74 students, whereas the largest graduating bachelor’s school graduated 96.97% of...
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...education has developed into three main types of fundamental programs: Diploma, Associate of Science Degree in Nursing (ADN) and Baccalaureate of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN). According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (2010) all nursing programs must be approved for graduates to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). As stated by The American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN] (2012) “The NCLEX tests for minimum technical competency for safe entry into basic nursing practice” (AACN, 2012). In compliance with imposed state regulation, all nursing programs provide the essential training for performing the duties required as a registered nurse. This paper will discuss the differences in competencies and decision-making skills of the registered nurse (RN) dependent upon their educational preparation. The main distinction amongst Diploma, ADN and BSN programs has been duration of study. The nursing diploma curriculums are the eldest type of nursing education that exists in the country. “Diploma programs are typically 2 to 3 years in length” (Creasia & Reid, 2011, p. 24). It is based in a hospital and exists outside typical universities. “Diploma nursing programs currently provide a solid foundation in...
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...empower the nursing body which includes both nurses and nursing students to fully participate in the digital period of health care. A Delphi study was done to indicate the need for a list of informatics...
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...Effective Delegation Erik Blashak Clarion University of PA Nurs 340: Nursing in Transition September 19, 2016 Effective Delegation as a Nurse Manager Gaudenzia, Common Ground is located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The facility is a 34 bed in-patient, non hospital, drug and alcohol rehabilitation. It is also licensed for dual diagnosed clients, and has a ten bed detoxification unit. There are ten female beds and twenty four male beds, including the detoxification clients. The client turnover rate is very high, and this adds pressure to the nursing department. There are two registered nurses and four licensed practical nurses on staff. At least one nurse is on duty twenty four hours a day. There is one nurse manager who works on the floor. The average nurse ratio is 17:1. The reason it is so high is because most clients are medically stable once they are done with detoxification. There are many nursing...
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...Baccalaureate Prepared Nurses April 7, 2014 Baccalaureate Prepared Nurses “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” Nelson Mandela The profession of nursing has always been an evolving and demanding job. With each year the responsibilities of nurses grow and the demands for higher education increases. There are several ways to obtain a nursing license in the United States: a diploma program, associates program, and a baccalaureate degree. Even though the associate degree is a popular route to gain access to the NCLEX there has been much research revolving around the preparedness of associate degree nurses verse baccalaureate degree nurses. Both associates in nursing and baccalaureate in nursing give a student the sought after nursing license, however research shows there is a vast difference between the ASN and the BSN. The ASN programs are found primarily at community colleges and the curriculum is about 2 years in length. The ASN suffices all subjects related to the NCLEX and prepares students to pass to obtain their licensure. The BSN program is a four -year program that usually takes place in the 4 year colleges. They too are prepared to take the NCLEX, however they are required to gain knowledge deeper in the subject than the ASN. “The review of literature which was presented tends to support the ideology that baccalaureate degree prepared nurses are more proficient in the use of research, leadership, theoretical...
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...Education is the backbone to obtaining a desired career and the level achieved significantly impacts the preparedness of an individual. In the nursing profession specifically, patient quality and safety outcomes are greatly affected based on the type of degree achieved by the nurse. Research has shown that Baccalaureate prepared nurses have been found to provide exceptional care due to advanced schooling and the requirement of additional credits as opposed to a nurse with an Associates Degree. There is much debate on the difference in quality of care that will be provided to patients based on the degree obtained by the nurse. As healthcare is an ever-changing field with improvements constantly being discovered, it is important for nurses to achieve the most education possible as well as additional on the job training as changes are implemented over time. Patient care is becoming more complex than ever and it is vital that nurses are being hired with proper skills to provide necessary care. BSN programs prepare nurses with additional skills in leadership, evidence-based practice, case management, health promotion, as well as population health, which are competencies that are not touched on in Associate programs (Warshawsky et al., 2015). These particular skills allow nurses to become more aware of the different...
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...Interview with a Master’s Prepared Nurse Deborah Hill, RN, BSN Ruthie Robinson October 29, 2014 Interview with a Master’s Prepared Nurse Introduction As a mastered prepared nursing student, gaining insight into the interplay among education, career path, and opportunities by interviewing an already masters prepared nurse, in the field of nursing education, can be used as a guidance into the experiences that may lie ahead in a promising and rewarding career in nursing education. This interview with a mastered prepared registered nurse, helped identify specific competencies that the MSN-prepared nurse gains after completing such a program. The interview was conducted on October 22, 2014 with the Clinical Nurse Educator for Woman and Infant Services, at Banner Gateway Medical Center. She was accommodating for this interview, although she states her days are quite busy, in her clinical role. Questions and Career Overview The Nurse Educator was first asked what her role was as the Clinical Nurse Educator for this medical center. She was quick to state that nurse educators in the Banner Health System not only have education for their specific units, but also have responsibilities to educate system wide. A day in the life of a Nurse Educator sometimes goes globally with her knowledge; to teach beyond his/her assigned unit. She continued to explain that there are a variety of functions that her position encompasses, however, she limited the list to the top three:...
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...industry is currently putting a strong focus on. It used to be that having a nursing workforce composed mostly of associate-degree nurses was sufficient enough to care for the country’s patient population. However, in the past few years more hospitals and nursing employers are moving toward hiring nurses who are prepared at the baccalaureate level to keep up with the increasing complexity of care that is essential to positive patient prognosis. The importance of this change is supported by multitudes of studies and research dedicated to identifying the improvements of patient outcomes, cost efficiency of facilities, and the difference in competencies of nurses prepared at the associate-degree level and those of a baccalaureate level. According to the research shown by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Fact Sheet, “lower mortality rates, fewer medication errors, and positive outcomes are all linked to nurses prepared at the baccalaureate and graduate degree levels” (Rosseter, 2015). For this reason, it is of great importance to hospitals, nurses, and other patient care facilities that employ them to make elevating the standards of nursing education a priority. This benefits the nurse whom wants to gain his or her Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) in numerous ways. Attaining a baccalaureate degree widens the spectrum of opportunities for nurses in terms of their professional careers. Whether it is becoming a clinical coordinator in a hospital unit or a department director...
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...of Nursing is to protect and promote the welfare of the people by ensuring that each person holding a license as a nurse is competent to practice safely(Board of Nursing [BON], 2014). Regulatory agencies have been around for many years, but the regulation of nursing actually began as a registry process to protect the public and nurses. A regulatory agency is authorized to create and enforce rules or regulations that carry the full force of the law(Flook, 2003). A wide range of regulatory agencies apply in different ways in the health care field. Health care regulations are developed and enforced by all levels of...
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...evidence- based practice because not only does it better prepare students for future clinical experience, but it also helps students build confidence when dealing with field work. To support this claim, the author discusses and analyzes a cross-sectional survey that focused on the knowledge relationship of nursing students who were acquainted with evidence-based practice. The study was conducted on 436 students who attended both a private or public university and also met the criteria of either being a sophomore, junior or senior, a part-time or full-time student and able to read and write in English. These specific students were then asked a serious of questions relating to their own self- evaluation on the amount of confidence and preparedness they possess in the field. The results showed that students who participated more in a research based learning method had more positive outcomes in their knowledge and attitude and also “generally found to increase with advancing academic class level” (Brown, 2009, pg.6). The purpose of the authors’ discussion on this specific study was to prove that nursing student’s performance will increase if you take them out of a classroom environment and place them into more clinical situations. This source provides credible information with the use of quantitative data and charts making it an extremely useful source when writing an essay relating to this topic of nursing. Robb, M., & Shellenbarger, T. (2014, November 10). Strategies...
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...differences in competencies between the Associate Degree Nurse and the Baccalaureate Degree Nurse Educational Preparedness: The differences in competencies between the Associate Degree nurse and the Baccalaureate Degree Nurse Grand Canyon University: Nrs-430V Professional Dynamics Diane Irby January 25, 2014 Introduction In 1860 nurse training began after the Crimean war. Florence Nightingale started the nursing program by caring for the sick, injured and dying soldiers during the war. The first nursing school was established in London. During the civil war the American women provided skilled nursing care. During world-war II they needed more nurses so an Associate’s Degree nurse program was developed. This was intended for them to work in the field of nursing as a technical nurse, assisting and working under the supervision of the professional nurse. (Creasia J., & Freiberg, E (2011). Differences in competencies between the Associate degree nurse and the Baccalaureate degree nurse There are 3 levels of nursing. 1. The diploma nurse who is trained by the hospitals this level hardly exists anymore. 2. The Associate’s degree nurse who gets the training at community colleges and Universities. They learn the technical aspects of nursing by learning the knowledge and skills needed to provide direct care to patients and families mostly in the acute care setting. 3. The baccalaureate nurse which is earned at the university. The BSN is taught...
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...Challenges of New Graduate Nurses: Transition to Practice Job retention rates amongst newly graduate nurses tend to fluctuate widely. These fluctuations have many possible and combined explanations including orientation quality, level of confidence, residency programs, pay rates, mentoring programs, management support, and countless views of job satisfaction. My concept will focus on transition to practice success of new graduate nurses in relationship to their organization’s orientation process, job satisfaction, and the effects of job retention rates. Identifying these challenges are significant noting that low retention rates are costly for health care facilities as well as for the economy. According to Gemberling, Tretter-Long, Reiner, Potylycki, and Davidson in their article Clinical Support for the Off-Shift Nurse and the Graduate Nurse: The Clinical Rock Stars, “Depending on the specialty, estimated replacement costs for an RN were $42,000-$64,000 [in 2005]” Gemberling et al. (2011). This topic is especially important for new graduate nurses when considering a first place of employment. Nursing educators and health care managers have been analyzing and designing new ways to combat low retention rates specifically for newly graduated nurses. Review of Literature Several factors influence job satisfaction, which is a key characteristic that effects job retention rates. Gemberling et al. (2011) found that most new nurses leave their first job because of stress related...
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